Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
8ACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
THIS invention relates to an interlocking construction block.
Various different interlocking construction blocks are known.
The known blocks are rectangular and they all have projections
on one major face and recesses in the opposite major face. The
recesses are complemental in shape to the projections and are
capable of receiving the projections of adjacent blocks in an
interlocking fit.
The present invention seeks to provide a novel interlocking
block which has a wide range of possible applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INV~NTION
An interlocking construction block according to this invention
includes a first part having a first surface lying in a first
plane and a second surface lying in a second plane spaced apart
from and parallel to the first plane, two second parts which
are spaced away from the first part and from each other and
which each have first and second surfaces lying in the first
and second planes respectively, and t~o third parts each
located between the first part and one of the second parts,
each third part having a first surface lying in a third plane
which is parallel to, but between the first and second planes
and a second surface which lies in the second plane, the parts
being integral with one another to define a block which has
generally a right angled V-shape when the block is viewed in a
direction normal to the first, second and third planes.
A block such as that defined above can be interlocked with
other identical blocks in various ways, the interlocking action
being possible because the first surface of each third part is
not coplanar with the first or second surfaces of the first and
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second parts, but lies in a plane, preferably midway,
therebetween. A first block as deFined above can be
interlocked with another identical block to form a rectangular,
brick-like body. In a preferred ~orm of the lnvention, there
is a series of grooves formed in the parts, the grooves
extending vertically when the block is laid with its first,
second and third planes horizontal, the grooves being
positioned to cooperate with the grooves of other identical
blocks when the blocks are interlocked to form a structure in
which the blocks are laid in superimposed courses. The
cooperating grooves then provide channels for services or for a
grout wh1ch will cement the blocks to one another in the
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l shows a perspective view of a block according to
the lnvention;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the block o~ Figure l;
Figure 3 shows a view of the block in the direction of the
~arrow 3 in Figure l;
Figure ~ shows how blocks of Figure l type can be
interlocked to form a wall;
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Figures 5 and 6 show plan views of alternate courses in a wall;
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of another block which is
used to complement a Figure l block;
Fiyure 8 shows, in a section, at the line 8-8 in Figures 5
and 6, a wall formed using blocks of the invention;
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igure 9 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of
block according to the invention; and
igure 10 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of block
according to the invention.
ESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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The integral block 10 seen in Figures 1 to 3 has a first part
12 which has a first surface 14 lying in a first plane 15 and a
second surface 16 which is spaced from and parallel to the
first face. The second surface lies in a second plane 19. The
block 10 also has two second parts 18 which are spaced from the
first part by third parts 20. The second parts 18 have first
surfaces 22 which lie in the same plane 1~ as the surface 14
and second surfaces 24 which lie in the same plane 19 as the
surface 16. The third parts have ~irst surfaces 26 which are
parallel to the surfaces 14, 16, 22 and 24 but which lie in a
plane 17 which is exactly midway between the planes 15 and 19.
The third parts also have surfaces 28 which lie in the same
plane l9 as the surfaces 16 and 24.
When the planes 15, 17 and 19 are horizontal, and the block is
viewed vertically from above, as in Figure 2, the block has
generally a V-shape, with the second and third parts on one
side having a bisecting plane 30 which is at right angles to
the corresponding bisecting plane 32 of the second and third
parts on the other side. The whole block is symmetrical about
a bisecting plane 34.
The block 10 is aiso ~ormed with a series of arcuate grooves 36
which extend vertically when the block is laid with its planes
1~, 17 and 19 horizontal. The block can~ be formed of a wide
variety of materials such as concrete or other cementitious
mix, clay, plastics or wood. It is anticipated that blocks 10
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can be used in children's construction sets, as well as in
full-scale building. The blocks can also be used in paving
applications.
A typical block 10 for use in domestic building operations will
have an overall length L of 340mm and an overall width W of
170mm with the arcuatè grooves 36 being defined by a radius of
Omm. The dimension X in such a block would be 85mm.
As will be apparent from the illustrations, and especially
Figure 2, the part 12 is generally trapezoidal, the parts 18
generally triangular and the parts 20 generally square when
viewed normally to the planes 15, 17 and 19.
Figure 2 shows how a block 10 can be interlocked with another
identical block lOA (illustrated in broken outline) to form a
rectangular unit. The block lOA is inverted with respect to
the block 10 i.e. its plane 19 is uppermost and its plane 15 at
the bottom. This is permitted because the parts 20 are of
half-height only and thus are able to combine with one another
to form a full he;ght.
When forming an interlocking wall using courses of blocks 10~
it is preferred to arrange them in what can be termed
"stretcher-bond" fashion rather than merely laying them one on
top of the other as illustrated in Figure 2. Figures 4 to 6
illustrate how this is done.
The bottom course 38 seen in plan view in Figure 5 contains
blocks 10 which are inverted from the positions seen in Figures
1 to 3. In other words, the piane 19 is uppermost and the
plane 15 is at the bottom. The surfaces 40 of the second parts
18 of adjacent blocks 18 are in close abutment with one another
in the longitudinal direction, while the surfaces 42 of the
first parts 12 are in close abutment with the corresponding
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surfaces of adjacent opposed blocks. Generally hexagonal
spaces 44 exist between the blocks.
Figures 4 and 6 illustrate the next course 46 of blocks 10,
which are also inverted from the positions seen in Figure 1.
It will be seen from Figure 4 that the course 46 will only
extend above the course 38 by half the overall height of a
block 10, because of the interlocking which takes place between
the third parts 20 of the blocks. The upwardly extending parts
of the blocks 10 in the course 46 provide an interlocking guide
for the next course. The course 46 is identical to the course
38, but is dispaced sideways relative to it by a distance 48,
; as seen in Figures 5 and 6. A full height wall is built up by
alternating the courses 38 and 46.
;~ ; Instead of having the blocks 10 in the courses 38 and 46
inverted as shown, it is also possible to have them the same
way up as the block 10 of Figures 1 to 3.
From Flgures 2,~5 and~6, it will be seen that the grooves 36
cooperate with one another to form verkical passages in the
wall which extend for the full height of the wall. This is an
important feature of the block 10, since these passages permit
ready lnstallation of electrical conduits and other services in
the ~body~ of the ~wall. Figure~8 schematically shows a
cross-sectional v~iew through a wall formed~from the blocks 10,
and shows that the outermost passages~50~and 52 formed by the
relevant grooves~;36 are very~close to the edge of the wall.
This means that access~to the passsage can easily be gained
merely by drilling or cutting a short distance into the wall at
the appropriate places. There is no requirement for chasing as
is the case with conventional rectangular bricks.
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If the blocks 10 are accurately formed, the wall requires no
plastering to achieve a pleasing finish and can be directly
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pain~ed or otherwise treated.
Referring again to Figures 5, 6 and 8, it will be seen that
there is a total of six passages across the width of the
resulting wall. Only some of these passages will be used for
services. At least some of the remaining passages are grouted
up with an appropriate cementitious or other adhesive mix to
~bond the blocks to one another firmly. It is for this reason
that it is preferred to lay the first course 38 in the manner
seen in Figure 4, since the gaps 56 which exist at the bottom
of the wall permit ready access to the passages for grouting
nozzles. The ;nvention contemplates the use of a manifold
which will be supplied with the appropriate grout under
pressure and which will have a series of grouting nozzles
communicating with~the manifold. The manifold will be
positioned adjacent the wall and the nozzles will be shaped to
enter;the gaps 5~ and align with the correct passages in the
wall. Then the grout which is supplied to the manifold will
automatically be directed into the correct passages without
filllng those passages required for services.
Prior to the grouting operation, the small gaps which will
exist between mating faces of the blocks can be sealed up by
pumping an ~appropriate sealant through some or all of the
passages in the wall. This will preferably be done in a closed
circuit, with that sealant which does~not find its way into a
gap being returned from the wall for re-use. The sealant will
therefore not fill the passages which can then be used for
grouting or for services.
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; Figure 8 indicates yet another use for the passages in the
wall. The outer surface of the wall is indicated with
reference numeral 58 and the inner surface with the numeral 60.
At least some of the outermost passages 50 and 52 are left
vacant and form conduits ~or the passage of air. The air which
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is present in the outer passages 52 will be heated up by
sunshine impinging on the outer surface 58 and can be directed,
with appropriate piping, through the passage 50 for venting
into a room as indicated by the arrows 62. During summer, the
passages 50 can be used for distributing conditioned air. Once
again, the gaps 56 prove important, since they provide openings
at the bottom of the wall through which the air can leave the
wall and enter the room.
With a wall formed using alternating courses 38 and 46 as
described earlier, there will also be gaps 56 at the upper end
of the wall which permit distribution of cooled or heated air.
Figure 7 illustrates a block 70 which can be mated with a block
10 to provide a pleasing end to a course 38 or 46. The block
70 is constituted by one-half of a block 10 as bisected by the
bisecting plane 34 in Figure 2.
From the dimensional relationships which are evident from
Figure 2 it will be seen that blocks 10 according to the
invention can be mated~ with one another in a variety of
different ways to form different structures.
It should also be noted that while the block 10 described above
is of solid construction, it is also possible for the block to
be hollow as illustrated in Figure 9 which shows a toy
construction block lOO formed oF plastics material. In Figure
9, the surfaces corresponding to the surfaces 14 and 22 of the
block 10 of Figures 1 to 3 are defined by the free edges 102 of
the walls making up the block. The coplanar surfaces
corresponding to the surfaces 16, 24 and 28 of Figures 1 to 3
are closed.
Figure 10 shows another embodiment of block according to the
invention in a plan view. In this Figure, parts corresponding
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to those of the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 are
designated with the same numerals with the prefix "2". In this
case it will be seen that the majority of the operatively
vertical surfaces of the block are arcuate in shape. A block
of this kind may, for ins-tance be used in marble work and has
the advantage that the arcuate faces such as those designated
202 and 204 can be cut from the marble using a circular diamond
CUtti~ng crown.
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